Back in Manitoba for the Weekend

I had a great time at Keith and Lorilee's (brother-in-law and sister) last night, and also saw Zach and Stephanie's (other brother-in-law and sister) appartment today, which was also great. They have a tub on feet! I am looking forward to the rest of the weekend. Happy holy-days!

Staying in Saskatoon

I have an opportunity to go back to Winnipeg, but have decided to stay in Saskatoon. God willing, I will work for WIS International in the first month of next year and beyond, and then when H&R Block gets going, somehow integrate that. It will be interesting. I want to somehow get back to Winnipeg for the weekend of the 24th and 25th, but don't know exactly how that will happen. I know, however, that God directeth my steps (Proverbs 16:2?)

Chah-Haih-Seoh!

Poem that refers to "Ben Hur"

I wrote this poem in South Korea (after having complained to God that there was nothing on TV, and pleading with him to let there be something worth watching on - THEN finding "Ben Hur")...

1. My joy from me, no man taketh,
Though God seemingly forsaketh;
And I seem to be alone,
And My sorrow do bemoan.

2. No more can they do but kill,
And, in that case, rise, I will;
Hallelujah, then, I say,
Hallelujah, anyway!

3. Now I'll hit the jolly sack,
Had enough of this day, Jack!
But it ended with "Ben Hur"-
Well, it ended! That's for sure!

Although Peter did Intend...

This is what I wrote after reading, "To See the End", which I greatly enjoyed, by Jocelyn:

1.  Although Peter did intend, / To go in and see the end;
And got trapped, and - Christ - denied, / While his Master went and died;

2. And the tears did, his eyes, sting, / "The end" was a be-gin-ning.

3. For, a seed, into the ground,/ As poor weeping Peter found;
Has to fall and die - or own,/ That it will remain alone.

4. Jesus, to the cross, submitted,/ And the yoke, though painful, fitted;
Peter swung his sword and fought,/ For him, the yoked fitted not.

5. In his shattered stream of tears,/ After "putting in three years";
He was finally "dy-ing",/ So that he could, fruit, forth, bring.

6. On the day of Pentecost,/ He had, self-reliance, lost;
And this was on full display,/ And the Pharisees did say;

7. "Jesus, with, have these men been,/ And this can be plainly seen;
For they are, as he was, bold,"/ As he, them, the gospel, told.

8. See, though, Peter, this, not, sees,/ Jesus will give him the keys;
And will not, in any wise,/ Change his mind - though he denies.

9. And, though Satan will, him, sift,/ The calling of God, and gift;
Still, without repentance, are,/ As God's ways, above us, far.

a. Therefore, if, with Peter, we,/ Coming, are, the end to see;
Let us find com-fort and grace,/ From this man, who ran his race;
Even after falling down,/ And got him, of life, the crown.

b. And, if what we had in mind,/ Is not what, in life, we find;
Let us to God's will, submit,/ Which, indeed, smarteth a bit;

c. For the Father of Lights will,/ Our emp-ty a-ching hearts fill;
With a lavish, rich, supply,/ Of his goodness from on high;

d. Evermore, at his right hand,/ Pleased as ever, we shall stand!;)

Prosperity

I have been making a point of saying the above word (i.e. "Prosperity") as loudly as possible, whenever I recite Psalm 35 (which I endeavor to do every day). I believe that this is part of seeing prosperity come to pass. Like this: "...Let them shout for joy and be glad that favour my righteous cause, yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the PROSPERITY of his servant. And my mouth shall speak of thy righteousness and thy praise all the day long." (Verses 37 and 38). Hey! Would ye like to join me? Please feel free to do so. Just say, as loudly as ye can, "Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the PROSPERITY of his servant." If ye will help me see it become a reality, then I pray that God would make sure that ye are abundantly recompensed. I do happen to believe the spoken word is incredibly powerful, and invite you to try believing it too! God bless you!

(By the way, I just took the bus to Saskatoon from Winnipeg just under a week ago).

Also by the way, I am waiting on God for the RIGHT kind of prosperity - not, for example, the "prosperity of the wicked", which I read of in Psalm LXXIII. Then again, Proverbs does say, "the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just". I "just" want to BE "the just" - and not the jolly sinner (though I suppose a sinner is really not all that "jolly", when all it said and done)! I want LEGITIMATE prosperity. The kind where I did not have to take advantage of somebody else to get it. I just had to wait on the LORD, and he saved me, as I read in Proverbs XXIIII (but wait on the LORD and he shall save thee).

"Though thou hast sore broken us in the place of dragons, and covered us with the shadow of death." Psalm XLIIII.19

What a testimony it is to God's sustaining grace when we persevere under trial and temptation. Job was about as prime an example of this as one might find in the Scriptures. Then again, of course, there was the Son of God who, as usual, really showed us how it was done - and did it on our behalf. Are we, by any chance, being tried and tested. Are we sore broken in the place of dragons, and covered with the shadow of death? If so, let us take heart! We are not the first ones! We will also not be the last ones.

Just like we can look back on David, Job, and Jesus Christ who remained faithful in the furnace of affliction, maybe we can serve as an inspiration to saints that come after us, and find themselves tried as we are. Let us hold fast our profession of faith, no matter what, and enjoy the eternal rewards!

Cousin Carol

My cousin, Carol Doerksen, passed away yesterday. God willing, we will travel to Laronge for the funeral on the seventh day of this week (i.e. "Saturday").